Using corpora for error correction in efl learners’ writing

Abstract

This study reports on a small-scale study exploring the effects of using corpora in the process of revising essays in English as a foreign language (EFL). 30 undergraduate students from two College English Classes in China participate in the experiment. The BFSU CQP web is used for assisting experimental group to correct the lexico-grammatical errors in writing. The findings reveal that corpora as reference resources are more helpful than the online dictionary in helping learners make accurate corrections and reduce errors in free production. The following questionnaires indicate that participants generally show positive attitudes toward corpus use in writing. However, there are also some challenges to overcome while using corpora such as too much time spent in analyzing data, too many examples in the concordance lines and so on. These findings suggest the need for more well-planned corpus-based activities to help learners benefit as much as possible from corpora-assisted learning.